Criminal Justice

vetoed · Arizona · House Jun 19, 2026

HB 4056: technical correction; double punishment

HB 4056 amends Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-116 to clarify that when an act violates multiple laws, sentences must run concurrently (served at the same time), not consecutively. It also states that a conviction or acquittal under one law bars prosecution for the same act under another law, aligning with constitutional protections against double jeopardy. This technical correction directly affects criminal defendants in Arizona who face charges under multiple statutes for the same conduct. The bill passed the Arizona House of Representatives on March 3, 2026, and was referred to the Senate.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeClarifies concurrent sentencing and double jeopardy protections, preventing multiple punishments for same act, strengthening defendant rights in criminal justice.95% confidence

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introduced · Arizona · Senate Feb 9, 2026

SB 1778: juvenile sentenced as adult; sentencing

SB 1778 changes Arizona's rules for trying juveniles (ages 14-17) as adults. It requires adult prosecution for juveniles accused of specific serious offenses like murder, forcible sexual assault, armed robbery, or violent felonies, especially if they have two prior felony convictions (defined as "chronic felony offenders"). The bill mandates that prosecutors file a special notice about chronic offender status, and courts must hold a hearing to verify this before proceeding. Crucially, it limits sentencing for juveniles tried as adults: judges cannot impose death, life without parole, or sentences totaling 25+ years ("de facto life").

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill mandates adult prosecution for juveniles in serious offenses with prior felonies, increasing mandatory sentencing and moving away from rehabilitative juvenile justice toward punitive measures.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Probation & Parole Sentencing

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passed · Arizona · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 1673: appropriation; crime victim notification fund

SB 1673 allocates $5 million from Arizona's state general fund for fiscal year 2026-2027 to the existing law enforcement crime victim notification program under Arizona Revised Statutes §41-2414. This funding directly supports state and local law enforcement agencies that provide notification services to crime victims. The bill specifies that this appropriation is exempt from standard budget lapse rules, ensuring the funds remain available for the designated purpose. As a purely financial measure, it does not change eligibility for victim notifications or create new requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $5M state funds to crime victim notification program, funding an essential public service without tax changes. Directly supports budget allocation for victim services.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllocates $5M to fund crime victim notification services under ARS §41-2414, directly supporting victim assistance within criminal justice system.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Law Enforcement Victims' Rights

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passed · Arizona · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 1748: victims' rights; opt in process

SB 1748 requires Arizona law enforcement agencies to provide crime victims with clear materials allowing them to "opt in" to receive notifications about their case, including arrests, court dates, and case updates. Once a victim opts in (only once), they automatically receive notifications from all relevant state agencies without needing to repeat the request. Victims can also opt out at any time, and agencies must share this change across all departments. The bill streamlines communication while preserving existing victim rights under Arizona law, directly affecting all crime victims in Arizona who interact with law enforcement.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances victim communication in criminal cases through streamlined notifications, supporting victim rights and improving transparency within the justice system.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement Victims' Rights

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passed · Arizona · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 4136: unlawful entry; vulnerable adults; vagrants

HB 4136 creates two new felony offenses for entering a residential structure where a vulnerable adult lives without permission. A general unlawful entry (Class 4 felony) requires the owner/caregiver to report the incident, while a sexual offense version (Class 3 felony) applies if the entry involves specific sexual crimes. The bill mandates immediate arrest by law enforcement and adds this violation to Arizona’s sex offender registration requirements under Section 13-3821. It directly affects individuals entering vulnerable adults’ homes without consent, with the owner/caregiver’s report triggering criminal penalties.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new felonies and mandatory sex offender registration, expanding criminalization and increasing penalties under criminal justice system90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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introduced · Arizona · Senate Feb 9, 2026

SB 1738: Coconino county; juvenile services; appropriation

SB 1738 provides $20 million in state funding for Coconino County to build a new juvenile court services facility and convert its existing juvenile detention center into a detox, sobriety, and crisis recovery center. The funds come from the state general fund for fiscal year 2026-2027 and are exempt from standard appropriation lapse rules. This bill directly affects Coconino County's juvenile services system by enabling facility upgrades focused on both court support and crisis care. It is a straightforward funding measure with no additional policy changes beyond the specified facility uses.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $20M from state general fund for juvenile facility upgrades, directly increasing public service funding per appropriations authority.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllocates $20M to convert juvenile detention into crisis recovery center, prioritizing rehabilitation over incarceration and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Courts Juvenile Justice

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introduced · Arizona · Senate Feb 10, 2026

SB 1773: peace officers; cameras; disclosures; recordings.

Arizona's SB 1773 requires all peace officers in the state to wear body-worn cameras during public contacts starting July 1, 2028, with limited exceptions (e.g., undercover work, court appearances, or avoiding unrelated personal information). The bill mandates camera activation during calls for service or public interactions, imposes disciplinary consequences for intentional failure to activate or tampering with footage - including certification suspension or revocation for misconduct involving civilian deaths - and establishes a 21-day public release timeline for unedited footage in misconduct complaints. It also requires law enforcement agencies to follow state retention schedules and redact sensitive content (like sexual assault footage) to protect privacy while enabling public access. The law applies directly to all local police departments, the Department of Public Safety, and peace officers employed by them.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates body cameras for officer accountability during public contacts, directly advancing transparency and oversight in law enforcement - a core criminal justice reform element.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement Policing

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introduced · Arizona · House Feb 11, 2026

HB 4110: sheriff's officers; correctional officers; training

HB 4110 requires Arizona county sheriff's deputies, detention officers, and state correctional officers who interact with prisoners or inmates to complete mandatory training on serious mental illness. The training, developed or approved by the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System mental health commissioner, must cover psychosis recognition, de-escalation strategies, emergency treatment procedures, and systemic factors contributing to mental illness in correctional settings. New hires must complete the training within six months, with refresher courses every two years, and agencies must maintain compliance records. This bill directly affects law enforcement personnel in county sheriff's offices and state correctional facilities.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates mental health training for officers on de-escalation and psychosis recognition, advancing reform by improving inmate safety and reducing harm in corrections.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health training for correctional staff on psychosis recognition, de-escalation, and emergency treatment, directly enhancing mental health care in correctional settings per the mental health commissioner's guidelines.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Mental Health

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passed · Arizona · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 4070: nonprofits; facilitation; trafficking offenses; penalties

HB 4070 blocks Arizona from incorporating nonprofits or corporations if any officer, director, or trustee has been convicted of trafficking-related offenses like sex trafficking, forced labor, or human smuggling. It creates civil liability for entities that facilitate trafficking, allowing victims to sue for damages including mental anguish, court costs, and attorney fees. Shareholders or partners who personally benefit from trafficking can also be held jointly liable with the entity. The law applies to all corporations and nonprofits under Arizona law and supplements existing legal remedies for trafficking victims.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill blocks incorporation of entities with trafficking convictions and creates civil liability for facilitation, strengthening accountability and victim protections in criminal justice.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Human Trafficking

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introduced · Arizona · Senate Feb 9, 2026

SB 1775: inmate telephone system service contracts.

SB 1775 prohibits Arizona's Department of Corrections from entering inmate telephone service contracts that allow revenue exceeding reasonable operating costs. It bans specific terms like commissions, profit sharing, signing bonuses, inflated rent payments, or unrelated technology supplies. The bill directly affects the state department managing inmate phone services by restricting how it can contract with providers. This change aims to prevent excessive charges for phone services used by incarcerated individuals and their families.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRestricts contracts to prevent excessive charges, promoting fiscal responsibility in state spending on inmate phone services.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits excessive inmate phone fees and exploitative contract terms, reducing financial burden on incarcerated individuals - aligns with criminal justice reform by protecting civil rights in corrections.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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